Electric car recharging modes, types of electric car batteries

There are different recharging modes on the market and they have to do with the level of communication between the electric vehicle and the recharging infrastructure (and therefore the electrical network), the control that can be had of the charging process, it can be to program it , see the status, stop it, resume it, or even dump electricity to the network. In this article we are going to talk about the modes and types of recharging in the electric car market.

Mode 1: Schuko-type domestic socket without communications between the charging infrastructure and the electric vehicle. That is, it has no communication with the network. For this recharging mode, a conventional power outlet is used.

Mode 2: Schuko-type domestic socket on the wall, with pilot function systems included in the cable. The cable has an intermediate pilot control device that serves to verify the correct connection of the vehicle to the network. You have low network communication.

Mode 3: It has a high degree of communication with the network. The control and protection devices are located inside the charging point itself, and the cable includes an integrated communication pilot wire. For example, type 1 (SAE J1772), Type 2 (Mennekes, IEC 62196) connectors can be used.

Mode 4: With a high degree of communication with the network. There is a DC converter and it only applies to fast charging. For example, the CHAdeMO or COMBO DC connector.

Types of recharging electric cars.

The types of recharging of electric cars are classified according to the speed of this. In other words, they are classified according to the time it takes to recharge the battery, something that depends on the available power. There are currently five types of electric car charging.

1. Ultra-fast electric car charging : Its use is not very common, it is in an experimental state in electric vehicles tested with supercapacitors type accumulators, (for example some electric buses). The batteries can be recharged in five or ten minutes, the recharging power is very high. Lithium-ion batteries cannot withstand the high temperature caused by this type of recharging, as it seriously impairs their useful life.

2. Fast recharging of electric cars : The power demanded is very high, between 44 and 50 kW. Recharging those 22 to 24 kWh of batteries can take half an hour. The normal thing is that a 100% recharge is not made, but around 80% or 90%.

3. Semi-fast recharging of electric cars : Recharging duration ranges from one to four hours. It is carried out at a power of about 22 kW. This form of recharging is very common in Renault, its low-cost Camaleón charger, for example, which is compatible with Renault Zoe.

4. Slow charging of electric cars : This form of recharging is what we usually call normal or conventional. The batteries are usually recharged between six and eight hours and is carried out at 16 A, demanding about 3.6 kW of power.

5. Super-slow electric car charging : When the intensity of the current is limited to 10 A or less due to not having a recharging base with adequate protection and electrical installation. The complete recharging of the batteries of an average electric car, about 22 to 24 kWh in capacity, can take between ten and twelve hours.

How much replace batteries of an electric car ?

 How much does an electric car battery cost?

Without a doubt, the battery is one of the most expensive components of an electric car, not to say outright that it is clearly the most expensive. For this reason, surely you have ever wondered: how much does the battery of an electric car cost? That is something that here, finally, you will be able to discover.

According to what I have been able to investigate, with not too up-to-date data prepared by Bloomberg in 2015, the battery of an electric car accounted for 57% of its total cost . And, according to experts, in 2025 it should be only 20%, which would mean a significant reduction in the total price of battery-powered vehicles. But the interesting thing is to discover the price today.

After making a content on how to correctly charge the battery of an electric car , in which we contacted all the manufacturers that have electric models for sale in Spain, we took the opportunity to ask them other questions. One of them was precisely this: 

How much could a replacement battery cost if the original one dies?

Some brands told us that this is information that they prefer not to disclose, others that it is information that needs to be confirmed, and similar responses. A strategy that can be understood or not, but that must be respected: the electric car is mine and I will inform you of what I think is appropriate...

Several manufacturers tell us the obvious, although perhaps it is not bad to remember it: "if the battery runs out during the warranty period, the customer would not have to pay anything".

But there have been brands that have gotten wet. This is the case of Honda , which confirms that " a new replacement battery costs 20,499.07 euros ". 

And Porsche is also transparent in this regard and gives us the exact prices (without VAT): 39,958.18 euros for the 93 kWh Taycan Performance Plus , which is 33,610.07 euros if it is an exchange. In the case of the 79 kWh Performance version, the price is 33,648.98 euros and 28,303.73 euros for an exchange.

Also Jaguar , which notes the following: "It depends on the model. Complete batteries are only replaced in certain cases, such as when there is impact damage. Usually components and battery cells can be replaced independently. A Jaguar I-Pace battery can cost 37,000 euros + VAT ".  

For their part, BMW, the entire Volkswagen Group and Renault tell us that it is not necessary to change the entire battery. And, if a part is defective, only that part is replaced. This includes battery modules.

Ford tells us the following: "we expect that the prices of the batteries at the moment in which they need to be replaced will have suffered a significant cost reduction compared to the current moment, but right now we cannot quantify it".

What percentage of the total price of the car does the battery represent? 

In addition, we took advantage of the occasion and asked them to answer this other question: What percentage of the total price of the car does the battery represent? 

In this case, as in the previous one, some manufacturers do not provide this information. Others, such as Nissan say that "given the wide variety of prices and incentives for different versions of a model equipped with the same battery, it is impossible to determine this percentage."   

And Mercedes tells us something similar: "it depends on the vehicle, the battery capacity, the range, since there are vehicles with 2 batteries. We cannot establish a weight on the price."

MG does clarify something else, although what it tells us is also evident: "it depends on the PVP of the vehicle and the capacity of the battery in kWh, as well as the materials used in its manufacture." And Jaguar adds: "the price of replacement batteries is not the factory price for a new car."

But others do give us concrete figures. Without a doubt, Porsche has once again been the clearest manufacturer regarding the percentage of the total price of the car that the battery represents : "It depends on the model: between 53% (Taycan model, with 93 kWh battery) and 25% (Taycan Turbo S model)."

Others tell us about future plans: "one of the Renault Group's objectives is to achieve a cost of less than 75 euros per kWh from 2024". That means that a 50 kWh battery would cost less than 4,000 euros . 

Without a doubt, it contrasts with the current cost per kWh that Toyota has given us: "it can reach 250 euros/kWh" . This, according to the previous example, would mean that a battery with a capacity of 50 kWh would cost 12,500 euros. 

It must be taken into account that Toyota works with very low costs, because they have been investing in R&D for 25 years in everything related to battery and electric propulsion, thanks to their hybrids.